Our Expectations For First Quarter (1)

The Nigeria Football Federation has gone to some length in organising this particular match, I assure you all, because one of our big expectations for the first quarter of Year 2014 is to deliver the African Nations Championship trophy to Nigeria.Over the weekend, I received a number of calls and messages from football fans and […]

The Nigeria Football Federation has gone to some length in organising this particular match, I assure you all, because one of our big expectations for the first quarter of Year 2014 is to deliver the African Nations Championship trophy to Nigeria.
Over the weekend, I received a number of calls and messages from football fans and other enthusiasts wishing to know how well the Eagles can perform in South Africa, with a number of established ‘stars’ of the team departing the camp in the eleventh hour for professional careers abroad, and a number of injuries to some hopefuls.
My standard response, and which I am happy to share on this page, has been that Nigeria is so much blessed with talented footballers that their departure might just mean the door to some other chaps to go and shine.
While we would all have been happy to have someone like Sunday Mba around, and a fit Gambo Muhammed (both of whom played at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 with the A Team, with Mba scoring two very important goals at the full-strength Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa that Nigeria won early last year), the truth is they are not available and we must make do with what we have.
I have read Coach Stephen Keshi talk confidently about his team despite the absentees and he has never wavered in his belief that our country will be there to compete, strongly and with confidence.
Yes, this is the first time that we are featuring at the African Nations Championship, having missed out of the first two editions. I remember how we lost narrowly to Ghana on aggregate for the first tournament in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009. The first leg was in Accra in December 2008 and I remember our boys racing to a two-goal lead, only to lose 3-2 in the end.
Three years ago, the race was on for Sudan 2011. The opposition was Niger Republic, and I remember how, on his way to Niamey by road, Board Member of NFF, Alhaji Alili Galadima, lost his life in an auto crash. The officials of NFF in Niamey kept the news away from them players until after the match, in order not to demoralise them. Yet, our boys lost that match 2-0.
Back in Kano for the return leg, the Eagles were told to go all out to ensure victory in order to honour the soul of the late Alili Galadima. But they did not. The match ended 0-0 and we were out of the race.
That is why, when the Eagles got the ticket in Abidjan in July 2013, there was reason to celebrate. That feat was one of the big accomplishments of Nigeria sports in the past year. With one of them strongest and most respected Leagues in Africa, it was unthinkable that our home boys would continue to miss out of the African Nations Championship.
I am happy at the work that Coach Keshi and his assistants have been doing since the boys resumed camp early December. We were at the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, in Salvador, and yet, Keshi’s mind was on his home boys that were coming to camp few days after.
In the past few days, the list of 23 players has been submitted and the boys have this big opportunity to test what the waters could be like in South Africa with the game against the Ethiopians.
In Cape Town, our boys will take on the host country, South Africa, as well as Mali and Mozambique in Group A of the competition. I believe they are ready to do the country proud.
Their first match is against Mali on Saturday next week, at the Cape Town Stadium, and I am already smelling victory that will propel the Super Eagles Team B to a high level and take them to the trophy.
Also in this first quarter, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is on in Costa Rica, with our girls, who did not kick a ball before qualifying, following the withdrawal of South Sudan, already drawn to play Colombia, China and Mexico in Group D.
The Head Coach, Bala Nikyu, was at the Final Draw for the tournament and says he has the confidence that the Flamingoes will go to that Central American country to do Nigeria proud.
I agree with him, and it is the determination of the present NFF administration to ensure that the team is adequately prepared to do the country proud in the competition. In 2012 in Azerbaijan, our girls crashed out of the quarter finals after losing so many glaring opportunities against France, only to be beaten on penalties.
Also in this quarter is the only FIFA window for senior international friendly, with the Super Eagles bound to play on 5th March against a top nation. We are presently putting finishing touches to the arrangement for this match.
Added to arrangements for that match is the priority of gradual preparation of the Super Eagles for a big impact at the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.

Next Week: Our Expectations for First Quarter (2)